Monday, June 1 marks the first day of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Activity is nil today in the tropics, but when we do get our first named, landfalling storm this year, you will notice some changes to the way forecasters describe possible impacts of a hurricane. Now, we will only refer to a category storm based on its maximum sustained winds. No longer will we categorize storms based on central pressure or possible storm surge. Check out the National Hurricane Center's Revised Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
This change is appropriate, considering the majority of landfalling storms have not caused the predicted storm surge for its category. Other factors impact storm surge, including the local shape of the coastline, the slope of the shelf leading up to the coast, the angle at which a storm makes landfall, and forward speed and size of a storm. The SLOSH model is one tool used to provide localized storm surge forecasts taking into account some of these mentioned factors.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Hurricane Season Starts Monday
Tomorrow...June 1st...is the official start to the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Right now the tropics are very quiet, but we will be watching off the eastern coast of Florida for some potential development later this week (wind shear will be weak in this area).
Instability Showers
Isolated showers have again popped up in the area. This time they have developed in northern Hanover and King William counties. These type of showers will be possible across the entire area until after sunset.
Given the fact that these showers are very isolated, the chances for rain will remain slim. I will have an update during the 6:30 PM newscast!
Given the fact that these showers are very isolated, the chances for rain will remain slim. I will have an update during the 6:30 PM newscast!
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